AU8837698A

AU8837698A - Conveying apparatus for a longwall mining machine

Info

Publication number: AU8837698A
Application number: AU88376/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dennis Lee Heninger; Stephen A. Rudinec
Original assignee: Joy MM Delaware Inc
Current assignee: Joy MM Delaware Inc
Priority date: 1997-10-09
Filing date: 1998-10-08
Publication date: 1999-04-29
Also published as: GB2330123A; GB9818060D0; ZA987816B; DE19846406A1

Description

j S F Ref: 431839

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

~i j Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.

3513 Concord Pike Suite 3001 Wilmington Delaware 19803 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Stephen A. Rudinec and Dennis Lee Heninger.

Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Hales, 2000, Australia Conveying Apparatus for a Longwall Mining Machine The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 1- Conveying Apparatus for a Longwall Mining Machine Field of the Invention The present invention relates to material handling apparatuses and, more particularly, is directed to conveying apparatus for conveying material mined from an underground seam by a longwall mining machine.

Z] a N:\LIBF]23478:dawn S 5 i< i -r i r 2 j3 ;-3 1^ sa IS c 1^ Description of the Invention Background A variety of different apparatuses exist for mining coal and other materials from underground seams. One apparatus which is commonly used in underground mining operations comprises a continuous mining machine which includes a rotatable cutting drum that is mounted on the front end of the mining machine. As the mining machine is advanced into the seam, the cutting drum dislodges or "wins" the coal from the seam. In most continuous miners of this type, the won material is conveyed rearwardly of the cutter drum by a longitudinally extending conveyor that may discharge into shuttle cars or other mobile conveying apparatuses to transport the won material from the mine face. The mining machine continuously advances into the seam and, as the material is won therefrom, an entry or tunnel is formed therein.

Another type of continuous mining machine is used in instances wherein extended portions or longwalls of seam are desired to be mined. Such longwalls may, depending upon the seam configuration, extend for distances of 300-1200 feet.

It is standard practice in this type of mining to mine parallel entries into the seam to be mined and connect those entries with one or more primary passages. Such arrangement defines the longwall pillar(s) to be mined. The roof of the primary passages are usually supported by movable roof 2- 1 supports during the mining of the exposed "face" of the longwall pillar.

SConventional longwall mining techniques employ a mining machine that is known in the industry as a longwall shearer.

i 5 A longwall shearer typically has an elongated mobile frame that is supported on floor-mounted tracks that are adjacent S and substantially parallel to the mine face. Rotary driven toothed drums are operably supported on arms on each end of l the elongated frame for winning the coal as the frame passes back and forth before the mine face. The won material falls into a face conveyor that is usually attached to the floormounted tracks and extends parallel to the longwall face.

SThe face conveyor discharges the material onto other I conveying apparatuses to transport the material from the seam. As the mine face recedes, the conveyor and track assembly is advanced forward to enable the shearer to continue mining.

Al Conventional conveyor arrangements for longwall mining machines typically comprise a plurality of sections joined S 20 in end-to-end fashion adjacent the face to form an elongated conveying structure. The structure has side walls and a center floor place that defines an upper conveying trough and a lower return trough- An endless chain conveyor is operably supported within the structure and is driven in an 25 orbit by a conventional motor/sprocket arrangement. U.S.

Patent No. 4,356,154 to Temme and U.S. Patent No. 4,607,890 3 to Merten et al. disclose longwall conveyor arrangements that each include a pair of endless chains operably supported on driven sprockets. Attached to the chains are a plurality of scrapers that serve to move the won material that falls into the conveyor trough from one end of the Strough to the other end thereof- Each of the scrapers have V-shaped ends that are adapted to correspond with V-shaped channels in the side members. Due to the large profile of such chain and scraper arrangements, those conveyors contribute to undesirable conveyor height when mining low seams. Therefore, the use of conventional chain/scraper conveyors in connection with longwall mining machines limit f the mining machine's ability to mine narrow seams having a height, for example, of 1-1.5 meters. Thus, there is a need 15 for a conveying apparatus for use in connection with a *longwall mining machine that is low profile in nature to enable the machine to mine underground seams of material having relatively low profiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a conveying apparatus for a Slongwall mining machine having a cutting head. The S. conveying apparatus includes a driven endless conveying member that is fabricated from a plurality of pivotally interconnected links. Each link has a body portion that has f(i~ ;i a maximum first height and first and second lateral sides.

Each link has two ends and at least some of the links each have a guide tab extending from each end thereof. Each guide tab has a maximum second height that is less than the maximum first height of the body portion. Each link also preferably has at least one sprocket engagement portion formed therein for engaging a driven sprocket. The conveying apparatus further includes a frame assembly for operably supporting the cutting head thereon adjacent a face of material. The frame assembly defines a conveying channel for receiving material therein that is dislodged by the cutting head and operably supports the endless conveying member therein. The frame assembly defines a plurality of guide channels for receiving the guide tabs of the links 15 therein to guide the endless conveying member within the frame assembly as the driven endless conveying member is I' driven in an orbit therein. Preferably, the links are constructed to permit the links to articulate relative to each other a predetermined amount.

20 It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a conveying apparatus for operably supporting at least one cutting head of a longwall mining and for receiving the material mined thereby that permits low S.prcfile seams to be mined.

25 Accordingly, the present invention provides solutions to the aforementioned problems associated with conventional conveying apparatuses employed in connection with longwall mining machines. The reader will appreciate that these and other details, objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, there are shown preferred embodiments of the present invention wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts and wherein: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a iongwall mining machine operably supported for discharge onto a preferred conveyor of the present invention; 15 FIG. 2 is a plan view of a preferred section of a preferred endless conveyor member of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a preferred link of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the link of FIG.

20 3; FIG- 5 is a bottom view of the link of FIGS. 3 and 4; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the link depicted in FIGS. 3-5 taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the link depicted in FIGS. 3-6; 6 FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the link depicted in FIGS. 3-7 taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 3; FIG. 9 is a plan view of another preferred link of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the link of FIG.

9; FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the link of FIGS. 9 and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the link depicted in FIGS. 9-11 taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 9; FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the link depicted in FIGS. 9-12 taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 9; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the link depicted in FIGS. 9-13 taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 9; FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional assembly view of two 15 preferred links of the present invention; and FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the link attachment tabs and corresponding pin depicted in FIG. s.

20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, the Figures show a longwall shearer mining machine 10 that employs a preferred conveyor system 12 of the present invention. More particularly and with reference to FIG. 1, the conveyor system 12 includes a plurality of conveyor frame members 7-

I

that are interconnected in a known manner to form an elongated conveyor trough/support structure 22 for the shearer 10. The shearer 10 is supported on the elongated supporc structure/conveyor trough in a known manner and includes at least one rotatable cutting drum 12. Each cutting drum 12 has a plurality of conventional cutting bits (not shown) attached thereto for dislodging the material (designated as in FIG. 1) as the cutting drum 12 is brought into rotating contact with the material to be mined.

Each cutting drum 10 is driven by a conventional motor 14.

In a preferred embodiment, each conveyor frame member includes a first side member 24 and a second side member 26. The side members (24, 26) are mounted in spaced-apart relationship by a floor plate 28 and a separator plate that are preferably welded to the side members (24, 26) as shown in FIG. 1. The separator plate 30 and the floor plate 28, in cooperation with the side members (24, 26) serve to define a return channel, generally designated as 32 The area b.-tween the side members (24, 26) and above the separator plate 30 forms a conveying channel, generally designated as 34, for receiving won material.

FIG. 2 depicts in plan view, a section of a preferred endless conveyor member 40 of the present invention.

Conveyor member 40 preferably comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected links (42, 60). A preferred link 42 configuration is shown in FIGS. 3-8. In a preferred form, link 42 has a body portion 44 that has a length "B" and a height Preferably, length is approximately 610mm and height is approximately 100mm. The skilled artisan will appreciate that other lengths and heights can be successfully employed in the manner taught herein. The body portion 44 has two lateral sides (45, 47) and is preferably formed with three attachment tabs for attachment to adjacent links. As can be seen in FIGS. 3-5, two attachment tabs 46 protrude from lateral side 45 of link 42 and another attachment tab 48 protrudes from the other lateral side 47 of link 42. Attachment tabs 46 are spaced from each other a distance that enables the attachment tab 48 of another link 42 to be received therebetween as shown in FIG. 2. Each attachment tab 46 has a bore 49 15 therethrough that are coaxially aligned with each other along axis E-E. Similarly a bore 51 is provided through the S"attachment tab 48.

Also in a preferred embodiment, to reduce the weight of the conveyor member 40, the top surface 50 of the link 42 has an ;xially extending recess 52 therein and the bottom surface has two axially aligned cavities 54. To enable the link 42 to be engaged by a conventional drive sprocket arrangement for driving the endless conveyor 40 in an orbit within the conveyor trough/support structure 21, each end (53, 55) of the link 42 is formed with sprocket engaging -9 recesses 56 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5- The link 42 is preferably formed from high strength polymeric material.

FIGS. 9-14 depict a preferred construction of link As can be seen in those Figures, link 60 preferably has an elongated body portion 62 that has a length that is longer thai the length of a link 42. preferably, a link is approximately 930mm long. However, links 60 can be provided in a variety of different lengths without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the ends (61, 63) of the body portion 62 are each formed with laterally extending guide tabs (64, 66), respectively that are preferably slightly laterally flared at their respective ends to provide additional stability to the link 60 as it is driven through the 15 conveyor structure/trough 22. Preferably, body portion 62 has a maximum first height (represented by distance and a guide tabs (64, 66) have a maximum second height (represented by distance that is less than the maximum first height of the body portion. In a preferred embodiment, the maximum first height is approximately and the maximum second height is approximately 76mm.

An elongated cavity 68 is provided in the top surface 66 of the link 60 and two axially aligned cavities 70 are S- preferably provided in the bottom surface of the link 60 to reduce the overall weight of the link. The body portion 62 of link 60 has lateral sides (67, 69) and is also formed 10 S_ l- with three attachment tabs that are adapted to cooperate with the attachment tabs (46, 48) on adjoining links 42 or, if desired, adjoining links 60. As can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 11, a pair of attachment tabs 74 protrude from lateral side 67 of link 60 and are spaced a distance from each other. Another attachment tab 76 protrudes from the other lateral side 69 of the link 60 and is adapted to be received between attachment tabs 46, of an adjoining link 42 or attachment tabs 74 of another link 60. Attachment tabs 74 are each provided with a bore 75 therethrough that are coaxially aligned along axis G-G. Attachment tab 76 is also provided with a bore 77. To enable the link 60 to be engaged by a sprocket, each end of the link 60 is formed with sprocket engaging cavities 73. Link 60 is preferably 15 formed from high strength polymeric material.

Links 42 and 60 are preferably pivotally interconnected in the manner shown in FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, three interconnected links 42 are provideu between each elongated link 60. However, more or less links 42 could be successfully employed. Also, if desired, the entire conveyor member 40 could consist of a plurality of pivotally interconnected links 60. Each adjoining link (42, 60) are pinned together by pins 80. Preferably, bores 75 preferably have a diameter of 36mm and are chamfered at their ends; bores 77 have a diameter of 39mm and are also preferably chamfered at their ends. In.this embodiment, pins 80 have a 11

I

1 ~"~a9sPSS~S~~S~S5~5~~5~55~ Ong~ diameter of 38mm. As will be discussed in further detail below, in a preferred embodiment, bores 77 are arcuate to enable the links (42, G0) to articulate relative to each other an approximate arcuate distance of 2 degrees.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the lateral sides of each attachment tab (46, 48, 74, 7G) are preferably arched approximately 5mm (represented by distance to facilitate the aforementioned articulation. See FIGS. 5 and 11- As shown in FIG. 16, distance I represents the preferred articulation. Thus, when fabricated in the abovedescribed preferred manner, thle links (42, 60) can articulate relative to each other about a center axis K-K to improve link to sprocket engagement and to accommodate articulated conveyor frame arrangements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred conveyor 40 received on *a preferred conveyor frame member 20. As can be seen in that Figure, the side members (24, 26) cooperate with the floor plate 28 and the separator plate 30 to define channels for receiving the guide tabs 66) of the links 60. Side plate 24 and floor plate 28 define a first guide channel 82 for the guide tabs 64 on one side of the return conveyor flight. Similarly, side member 26 and floor plate 28 define a primary guide channel 84 for the guide tabs G6 of the return conVeyor flight. Side member 24 and separator plate 30 cooperate to form a guide channel 86 for receiving the guide tabs r'4 of the conveying flight; side member 26 and -12 separator plate 30 cooperate to form guide channel 88 for receiving the guide tabs 66 of the conveying flight. The reader will thus appreciate that the aforementioned guide channels and guide tab arrangement serve to guide and retain the endless conveyor member 40 within the elongated conveyor frame members 20 during the conveying of aggregate material.

As can be appreciated from the description above, the unique design of the present invention reduces the overall height profile of the conveyor employed for supporting the cutting apparatus of a longwall mining machine and conveying the material won thereby. For example, prior chain and flight conveyor arrangements that utilize one or more chains with a series of scraper pads attached thereto typically required a conveyor frame height of 300mm. Due to the unique low profile design of the conveyor of the present invention, however, the height (see FIG. 1) can be as little as 254mm. Such reduction in conveyor height enables the longwall mining machine to be effectively employed for mining low profile seams having heights of as little as, for example, 1-1.5 meters. In addition, the unique link construction of the present invention, enables the conveyor to articulate to conform to articulated frame arrangements and to improve link to sprocket engagement. Accordingly, the present invention opens a new frontier in longwall mining and represents a vast improvement over prior chain and flight conveyors typically employed in connection with 13 longwall mining machines. Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course, appreciate that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Ai.; 7 -t

Claims

1. A conveying apparatus for a longwall mining machine having a cutting head, comprising: a driven endless conveying member including a plurality of pivotally interconnected links wherein each said link has a body portion having a maximum first height, said body portion having first and second lateral sides and two ends and wherein at least some of said links each have a guide tab extending from each end of the body portion thereof, each said guide tab having a maximum second height that is less than said maximum first height of said body portion, each said link having at least one sprocket engagement portion formed therein for engaging a driven sprocket; and a frame assembly for operably supporting said cutting head thereon adjacent a face of material, said frame assembly defining a conveying channel for receiving material therein that is dislodged by said cutting head and operably supporting said endless conveying member therein, said frame assembly defining a plurality of guide channels for receiving said guide tabs of said links therein to guide said endless conveying member within siid frame assembly as said driven endless conveying member is driven in an orbit therein. 15 IL- A:/

2. The conveying apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said link comprises: first and second attachment tabs protruding from said first lateral said of said body portion, said first and second attachment tabs being spaced from each other to define a tab-receiving area therebetween, said first tab having a first bore therethrough and said second tab having a second bore therethrough that is coaxially aligned with said first bore; a third attachment tab protruding from said second lateral side of said body portion and being sized to be received in said tab-receiving area between said first and second tabs of an adjoining link, said third tab having a third bore therein such that when said third tab is received within said tab receiving area of said adjoining link, said third bore is coaxially aligned with said first and second bores in said first and second tabs of said adjoining link; and a pin member received within said first, second and third coaxially aligned bores.

3- The conveying apparatus of claim 2 wherein said third bore is arcuate and wherein said third tab member has arcuate end members to permit said adjoining links to articulate a predetermined amount relative to an axis defined by said pin member received therein. 16

4. The conveying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame assembly comprises: a first side member having a first lip portion; a second side member having a second lip portion; a separator plate attached to said first and second side members and extending therebetween to define said conveying channel, said separator plate cooperating with said first lip portion of said first side plate to define a first guide channel for receiving guide tabs protruding from one end of each said link comprising a conveying flight of said endless conveyor, said separator plate further cooperating with said second lip portion of second side member to define'a second guide channel for receiving the guide tabs protruding from the other end of each said link comprising said conveying flight of said endless conveyor.

The conveying apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a floor plate attached to said first and second side plates and extending therebetween, said floor plate cooperating with said first and second side plates and said separator plate to define a return channel for receiving a return flight of said endless driven member therein.

6. The conveying apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first side member has a primary lip portion configured to cooperate with said separator plate to define a primary 17 ~-ras--ae_ cc -a ~a channel for receiving the guide tabs of the links comprising said return flight of said endless driven conveying member and wherein said second side member has a secondary lip that is configured to cooperate with said separator plate to define a secondary guide channel for receiving the guide tabs on the other end of said links comprising said return flight of said endless driven conveying member.

7. A conveying apparatus.for a longwall mining machine having a cutting head, comprising: a driven endless conveying member including a plurality of pivotally interconnected links wherein each said link has a center portion having first and second lateral sides and ends, and wherein at least some of said links each have a guide tab extending from each end of the body portion thereof, each said link having at least one sprocket engagement portion formed therein for engaging a driven sprocket, each said link having first and second attachment tabs protruding from said first lateral said of said body portion thereof, said first and second attachment tabs being spaced from each other to define a tab-receiving area therebetween, said first tab having a first bore therethrough and said second tab having a second bore therethrough that is coaxially aligned with said first bore, each said link further havina a third attachment tab orotruding from said second lateral side of said body 18 :u portion and being sized to be received in said tab-receiving area between said first and second tabs of an adjoining link, said third tab having a third bore therein such that when said third tab is received within said tab receiving area of said adjoining link, said third bore is coaxially aligned with said first and second bores in said first and second tabs of said adjoining link, said third bore being arcuate and said third tab member having arcuate end members; a pin member received within said first, second and third coaxially aligned bores such that said arcuate third bore and said arcuate sides of said third attachment tab permit said adjoining lii to articulate a predetermined amount relative to an axis defined by said pin member received therein; and a frame assembly for operably supporting said cutting head thereon adjacent a face of material, said frame assembly defining a conveying channel for receiving material therein that is dislodged by said cutting head and operably supporting said endless conveying member therein, said frame assembly defining a plurality of guide channels for receiving said guide tabs of said links therein to guide said endless conveying member within said frame assembly as said driven endless conveying member is driven in an orbit therein. a I f-v,

8- The conveying apparatus of claim 7 wherein said frame assembly comprises: a first side member having a first lip portion; a second side member having a second lip portion; a separator plate attached to said first and second side members and extending therebetween to define said conveying channel, said separator plate cooperating with said first lip portion of said first side plate to define a first guide channel for receiving guide tabs protruding from one end of each said link comprising a conveying flight of said endless conveyor, said separator plate further cooperating with said second lip portion of second side member to define a second guide channel for receiving the guide tabs protruding from the other end of each said link comprising said conveying flight of said endless conveyor.

9. The conveying apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a floor plate attached to said first and second side plates and extending therebetween, said floor plate cooperating with said first and second side plates and said separator plate to define a return channel for receiving a return flight of said endless driven member therein.

The conveving apparatus of claim S wherein said first side member has a primary lip portion configured to cooperate with said separator plate to define a primary I B channel for receiving the guide tabs of the links comprising said return flight of said endless driven conveying member and wherein said second side member has a secondary lip chat is configured to cooperate with said separator plate to define a secondary guide channel for receiving the guide tabs on the other end of said links comprising said return flight of said endless driven conveying member.

11. An endless conveying member for a longwall mining machine having a cutting head and a frame assembly for operably supporting the cutting head thereon adjacent a face of material and wherein the frame assembly defines a conveying channel for receiving material therein that is dislodged by the cutting head, said endless conveying member comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links sized to be operably received within said conveying channel S and wherein each said link has a body portion having a maximum first height, said body portion having first and second lateral sides and two ends and wherein at least some of said links each have a guide tab extending from each end of the body portion thereof to be received in corresponding guide channels in said frame assembly, each said guide tab having a maximum second height chat is less than said maximum first height of said body portion, each said link having at least one sprockec engagement portion formed therein for engaging a driven sprocket. 21i t

12- The conveying apparatus of claim 11 wherein each said link comprises: first and second attachment tabs protruding from said first lateral said of said body portion, said first and Ssecond attachment tabs being spaced from each other to define a tab-receiving area therebetween, said first tab having a first bore therethrough and said second tab having a a second bore therethrough that is coaxially aligned with said first bore; a third attachment tab protruding from said second lateral side of said body portion and being sized to be received in said tab-receiving area between said first and second tabs of an adjoining link, said third tab having a third bore therein such that when said third tab is received within said tab receiving area of said adjoining link, said third bore is coaxially aligned with said first and second bores in said first and second tabs of said adjoining link; and a pin member received within said first, second and third coaxially aligned bores.

13. The conveying apparatus of claim 12 wherein said third bore is arcuate and wherein said third tab member has arcuate end members to permit said adjoining links to articulate a predetermined amount relative to an axis defined by said pin member received therein. 22 23

14. A conveying apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference ,o the accompanying drawings. Dated 8 October, 1998 Joy MMI~ Delaware, Inc. Patent AttorneYs for the Applicant/Nominlated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON